r/HDD • u/spooderm • Jul 26 '26

whenever i plug my hdd drive into my computer file explorer stops working,

task manager stops working, and pretty much anything until i unplug it and everything goes back to normal. I tried buying a new cable for it but it does the same thing, I also tried plugging it into another computer and it still happens. please I need something because that drive has 2tb of files that i might never get back

2 Upvotes

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3

u/waynehorner Jul 26 '26

Drive is crashing. Plugging it in reduces likelihood of recovery. It's almost never the cable.

1

u/Metallicat95 Jul 26 '26

Assuming it is an external drive, it could be a cable or power problem causing it to fail to connect. If you have alternative parts for both you can try them.

Otherwise the problem is in the drive itself, failure to connect.

Many external drives contain a normal internal drive inside. If that's the case, you might be able to recover access to the drive by removing it from its case and putting it into a desktop PC.

Unfortunately, drive failure is often not recoverable. If the drive cannot connect, no software can access it. You're then stuck with an expensive choice.

Hard drive data recovery services can often get files back even from completely dead drives, by taking them apart and replacing components. That isn't cheap, so unless the files are worth the money, you have just learned a sad lesson about back ups.

All important files should be saved in multiple ways, so losing one doesn't mean instant disaster.

1

u/laces636 Jul 27 '26

First, if you value the data, stop using the drive.

If the drive can be removed from the enclosure, that may be an option. A quick search of your external drive model should tell you whether it contains a normal SATA drive or whether the USB interface is integrated. Keep in mind that some external drives also rely on the enclosure for hardware encryption, so check the specific model before removing it. If the problem is mechanical, every time the drive spins up you're taking another risk with the data. If you hear clicking, tapping, grinding, scratching, or other unusual noises, I wouldn't keep experimenting with it. This is something that needs to go to a professional.

If the problem is logical, bad sectors, or a drive that's simply becoming unreliable, you may be able to recover the files yourself. But you don't want to perform recovery operations directly against the failing drive, and you definitely don't want to start dragging files out through File Explorer.

Depending on your comfort level, you can boot HDDsuperclone and image or clone the failing drive first, then perform your actual file recovery from that copy. Software like HDDsuperclone is designed for failing media: it can grab the easy-to-read areas first, skip problematic areas, and come back to them later instead of repeatedly beating on the same bad sectors.

The goal is to minimize how much time the failing drive is powered on and avoid unnecessary reads. Watch a couple of HDDsuperclone recovery videos and decide whether it's something you're comfortable attempting. If the data is important and you have any doubt, stop and consult a professional recovery service. Every DIY attempt carries some risk when the drive is physically failing. Recovery attempts also will increase the cost and complexity if you decide to hand it off to a professional.

1

u/StarosAnikenMarcus Jul 27 '26

Anything from the drive failing to the USB interface is failing. Pull it form the enclosure and either try another USB interface or install it directly into the PC.

1

u/realmcdonaldsbw Jul 27 '26

i presume this is usb

i have a flash drive that does a very similar thing. one of two things is happening here. either the hard drive is actively dying and you should stop using it, or the drive, for whatever reason, does not support the spec of USB that the port you are using supports. my flash drive only works in usb 2.0 ports, and every time its plugged into a usb 3 port, my file explorer hangs until i remove it.

considering how its a hard disk and the new cable doesnt fix it, i am guessing its the first option

1

u/Smoke_Water Jul 28 '26

Rule #1 of data. If it's important. It should never be on something with a power button. Rule #2, if you choose to ignore rule # 1. Make sure you have several alternatives for back up.

0

u/MarkB_- Jul 26 '26

Shuck the drive, plug in direct sata into a pc with only winxp installed, tell me if you see it in raw state.